OCD Symptoms in Children

ocd symptoms in children.


How common is OCD in children?

It is estimated that approximately one in 100 children may have obsessive compulsive disorder. Children are usually around 10 years of age at diagnosis, although children as young as two or three may have symptoms of OCD. Children are more likely to develop this disorder before puberty, while girls tend to develop during adolescence. In adolescence, the incidence is about evenly split between boys and girls. OCD is often run in families.

Common obsessions with children:

The fear of harm or danger to loved ones or self (ie, if I count to five every time I talk to my father, he will not die)
A need for perfection (ie, rewriting an assignment instead of erasing a mistake)
Fear of losing something valuable
The need for symmetry and order
intrusive sounds or words
Aggressive / sexual thoughts
religious fixations
Common compulsions with children:

Wash hands and the second wash to avoid exposure to germs
Organize or sort the objects in a very specific
Repeating a name, phrase or melody
Counting or touching rituals
Hoarding or hoarding useless objects
Seek safety or do things until it looks perfect
The signs of obsessive compulsive disorder

It can be difficult for parents to recognize the symptoms in a child, as children take great care to conceal their behavior. Symptoms can last for months or years before a parent even begin to realize that there is a problem. Children and adolescents may be able to overcome obsessions and compulsions in school but not at home, or vice versa. Symptoms can vary and be higher for a period of stress, such as around holidays or when school starts.

What to look for in children

Some signs that a child is obsessed with secrecy or performing rituals can be seen on the following observations:

rough hands, red from constant washing
a sudden increase in laundry
spent an unusually long time to complete the task
holes erased through tests or assignments
a sudden drop in grades, school performance
asks family members to repeat phrases over and over again
constant fear that something bad will happen to a family member or loved one
tantrums or extreme hardship if a ritual is interrupted
difficulty concentrating in school due to repetitive and intrusive thoughts
social isolation or withdrawal from peers
The effect of OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder can affect almost all aspects of the life of a child, including their success in school, personal relationships with family and peers, and even physical health. Constant obsessions and compulsions in children may make it difficult to concentrate in class and complete homework, or even make friends. strange behavior often can lead to teasing from other children. Normally there is coexistence of physical symptoms like headaches, stomach aches and other stress-related ailments.

Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD is usually treated with combinations of different approaches to therapy and medication. Here are some treatment options are available:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): The therapy focuses on the development of positive thinking and behavior patterns, rather than the negative trigger the symptoms of OCD, and try alternative replacement behaviors.
Exposure and response (ERP) Therapy: A therapist exposes a child to an obsession and prevents it from performing rituals or avoidance behavior of a given period of time that increases with each session. Although this is very difficult and can cause anxiety at first, these feelings will soon begin to decline and sometimes disappear completely.
Drugs: Drugs such as an inhibitor of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used in combination with therapy. It works on anxiety symptoms that often accompany exposure therapy, giving a fair chance to work.
Concurrent DisordersOCD can occur by itself, but is often accompanied by one or more colleagues from other disorders. Some of these include: Tourette syndrome, attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, social anxiety and panic disorder.